2023 education federal grants landscape: a look ahead

Jeffrey S. Solochek/Tampa Bay Times via TNS

“Every mile is two in the winter” said George Herbert , an English Poet. Wintertime 2023 is the start of a new grant season; the Fiscal Year 2023 U.S. Department of Education (DOE) budget includes $88.3 billion in funding for education, a $15.3 billion or 20.9% increase from the 2021 level. The proposed budget includes the following key initiatives:

Proposes historic investments in schools with high-poverty rates: “The Budget includes $36.5 billion for Title I, including $20.5 billion in discretionary funding and $16 billion in mandatory funding.” Title I aids schools with students from low-income areas; it is designed to “focus on special needs populations and to reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students.”

Prioritizes the health and well-being of students : The COVID-19 pandemic caused interruptions and distractions to school districts and students. COVID-19 changed “the physical and mental health of students, educators, and school staff.” To combat this transformation, the proposed budget contains a “$1 billion investment to increase the number of counselors, nurses, school psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals in school.”

Increases support for children with disabilities : The proposed budget includes $468 million for children with disabilities. Community schools provide integrated support to students and their families; topics are “health and nutrition services and adult education opportunities; expanded enrichment and learning opportunities such as afterschool programs.”

Supports multilanguage learners : The Budget will provide $1.075 billion for the English Language Acquisition (ELA) program . The ELA program supports “students learning English to attain English proficiency and achieve academic success. English learners (ELs) were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Dramatically expands support for full-service community schools : The proposed Budget is $468 million for the Full-Service Community Schools Program. “Community schools play a critical role in providing comprehensive integrated support services to students.”

Safer Communities Act

The bipartisan Safer Communities Act is not part of the proposed 2023 budget; however, the act is an integral piece of the overall budget.

Safer Communities Act : President Biden signed the Safer Communities Act in June 2022. This law “invests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including: early identification and intervention programs, school-based mental health and wrap-around services, improvements to school-wide learning conditions, and school safety.”

• School Based Mental Health Services Grant Program : $500 million for additional mental health therapists.
• School Based Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Grant : $500 million to help train and diversify a stream of counselors, social workers, and psychologists in schools.
• Title IV-A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants) : $1 billion to use evidence-based practices for positive school cultures and to improve student learning conditions.
• Instructional technology for students.
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program: $50 million will expand extracurricular enrichment programs occurring after school and in the summer.
• STOP School Violence Act grants : $300 million “to institute safety measures in and around schools, support school violence prevention efforts, and provide training to school personnel and students.”

Tip: Set up a grants calendar based on the DOE Budget which is an effortless way to stay up to date.

George Herbert countered the long winter with “The shortest answer is doing.” Embrace winter and start “doing” research on this proposed funding from the FY23 DOE Budget.